[Oral health perception and oral habits in children and teenagers]. / Percepción y hábitos de salud bucodental en niños y adolescentes.

BACKGROUND: To determine the self-perception of oral health levels and the need for treatment, hygienic habits and frequency of visits to the dentist amongst schoolchildren in Navarre. METHODS: The population of the study was aged 6, 12 and 14 years. The sample was obtained from schools teaching 1st and 6th year in Primary Education and 2nd year in Compulsory Secondary Education. The data was gathered through self-answering questionnaires. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of 6 and 12 year olds, and 82.9% of 14 year olds are satisfied with their oral health. Thirteen point one percent of 12 year olds and 19.3% of 14 year olds are dissatisfied, above all with misaligned teeth. Approximately one-third think they need some treatment, above all fillings at age 6 and orthodontics at 12 and 14 years. Nearly two-thirds say they brush their teeth more than once a day and between 80 and 90% say they have visited the dentist in the last year. More than 75% of those responsible for the schoolchildren aged 6 and 12 years make a positive evaluation of the contributions of the child dental care program (PADI) and more than 95% are satisfied with the care given by PADI dentists to their children. Sex, average residence and socioeconomic level barely influence the perception of health, frequency of brushing teeth or need for treatment. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that the subjective perception of oral health is good and that one-third of those surveyed think they need some type of treatment. It is very positive that they majority say that they have been to the dentist in the last year and that they brush their teeth more than once a day, which is an improvement on the results of previous studies.

[Dental health of children and adolescents of Navarra, 2007 (4th edition)]. / La salud dental de los niños y adolescentes de Navarra, 2007 (4 feminine edición).

BACKGROUND: With five years having passed since the last survey (2002), a new survey was carried out, the 4th since 1987. The aim is to determine the state of oral health of children and adolescents in Navarre and its evolution. POPULATION AND METHODS: The sample (n=1.397) was selected through multistage probability sampling, taking as a unit the classrooms of the 1st and 6th year of Primary Education and the 2nd of Compulsory Secondary Education. The fieldwork was carried out in the months of April and May 2007 by two calibrated teams of examiners. Health variables studied: caries (measured with WHO criterion and extended criterion), periodontal state and malocclusion. The data were computerised with Access XP 2003 SP3; the statistical analysis with SPSS Windows v.15.0. RESULTS: Ten point eight percent of the sample is of foreign origin. The prevalence of caries in temporary dentition at 6 years is 35.9% with a DFT of 1.26, in permanent dentition, 28.5% and 46.4% at 12 and 14 years; the average of affected teeth 0.63 and 1.28 respectively. The index of restoration is 26.1% in temporary dentition and 68.9 and 74.1% in permanent; those of foreign origin show more caries (p<0.05) and less treatment (p<0.05) than those of Spanish origin. Sixty-two point eight percent of 14 year olds show gingival bleeding and 16.8%, calculus; 14.7% malocclusion and 19.1% wear orthodontic appliances. Conclusions. Caries are stabilised in temporary dentition in the general population, but fall significantly amongst natives (those of Spanish origin); in permanent dentition they continue their tendency to fall, although more moderately. Navarre is amongst the regions with a lower level of caries and a higher index of restoration. Immigrants show significantly more caries. The index of restoration falls slightly with respect to previous years. The periodontal health figures are poor. Malocclusion and orthodontic appliance wearers are stabilised.